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enUnsolicited Advice and Other Things You Don't Want to Hear http://www.hcpl.net/content/unsolicited-advice-and-other-things-you-dont-want-hear
<p><img hspace="3" height="130" align="left" width="110" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2497/3891455089_cb292d562b_m.jpg" alt="Photo Credit:Untitled Photograph [Woman Writing] by Mr. Stabile" />Today I want to address the would-be poets out there. More specifically, I want to offer some advice to all of you who have ink coursing through your veins, but who&nbsp;can't find: a) the time b) your voice c) your muse d) your pen.</p>
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<p>The nuggets below are put forward with the sincere hope that you not fall prey to the same&nbsp;delusions, counterproductive thinking and wastes of time and energy that I did on my way to becoming the middlebrow hack you are now reading. That being said, I do not doubt that you will stumble&nbsp;upon&nbsp;every one of them&nbsp;as well as new and imaginative ones&nbsp;of your own, and that's okay. Think of it as paying your dues.</p>
<ul>
<li>Sit down, shut up and write...or don't. Just&nbsp;stop whining&nbsp;about it. </li>
<li>If you have ever said, &quot;I really want to be a writer, but I&nbsp;don't know what to write about,&quot;<strong>* </strong>you should probably look for a line of work that doesn't&nbsp;require you to actually say something...pantomime perhaps, or corporate public relations.</li>
<li>If you have even ten minutes a day to waste on TV, you have time to write.</li>
<li>Can't find your voice? You'll find it on the college-ruled pages&nbsp;of a 99&cent; composition book.</li>
<li>Your muse? It lives under one of the keys&nbsp;on your laptop. Just keep in mind that muses are notoriously reclusive, and refuse to suffer fools, so you will probably have to tap-tap-tap on those keys until your cuticles bleed before you get an answer, and even then you might not like what you hear. Continue to write anyway.</li>
<li>Inspiration is a will o' the wisp.&nbsp;It is&nbsp;elusive as well as illusive.&nbsp;Ask any writer you admire and she/he will tell you that it's not the writing; it's the re-writing.&nbsp;It's all about the slog, the long haul, the craft as opposed to the art. Get used to it.</li>
<li>Writing requires the discipline to work even when you would rather be doing something--<em>anything--</em>else up to and including&nbsp;smacking yourself in the face with a&nbsp;halibut. Embrace your inner ascetic.</li>
<li>Even if--especially if--you deleted every word&nbsp;you wrote on&nbsp;a given day,&nbsp;eat a peanut butter cup or five,&nbsp;and remind yourself that this is the way we learn.</li>
<li>Writing is like making love; everyone thinks they're good at it. Most are mistaken, but this will not prevent them from being roundly unimpressed by your talent and achievements. Try not to care.</li>
<li>Hoard&nbsp;writing cues&nbsp;(snippets of overheard speech, quotes from texts, ineffable feelings, funny sounding words, odd childhood memories--anything that gives you that weird tingle at the base of your skull, so that when you&nbsp;sit down to write, you&nbsp;won't fall victim to the Terror of&nbsp;the Blank Page.</li>
<li>Eventually you will&nbsp;hit a sweet spot and you will write brilliantly and effortlessly. It will not last. These are moments writers live for and if you get a handful of them in a lifetime--heck, if&nbsp;you get <em>one</em>&nbsp;in a&nbsp;lifetime, count yourself lucky.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Read, broadly as well as deeply.</li>
<li>When you find a text that knocks your socks off, try transcribing it. You will be amazed at what you missed in your reading, and you will get a better feel for the rhythms of exceptional writing.</li>
<li>Take pride in your rejection slips; use them as motivation. It's okay to hold grudges.</li>
<li>Back away from the computer, pick up a pencil and get to work. Now.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>*</strong>Actual quote from an actual&nbsp;student, said&nbsp;with no discernible&nbsp;irony.</p>
<p>Below is a grab bag of books and&nbsp;other resources&nbsp;from Harris County Public Library's collection that may help get you started.</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://catalog.hcpl.net/ipac20/ipac.jsp?menu=search&amp;aspect=subtab13&amp;term=practice%20of%20poetry%20writing%20exercises&amp;index=.GH#focus">The Practice of Poetry: Writing Exercises from Poets Who Teach</a></strong> / Robin Behn &amp; Chase Twitchell<img hspace="3" height="123" align="right" width="100" alt="Cover Art: Finding Water by Julia Cameron" src="http://www.syndetics.com/index.aspx?type=xw12&amp;isbn=9781585424634/LC.GIF&amp;client=harrisp&amp;upc=&amp;oclc=" /><br />
<strong><a href="http://catalog.hcpl.net/ipac20/ipac.jsp?menu=search&amp;aspect=subtab13&amp;term=artists%20way%20spiritual%20path%20to%20higher%20creativity&amp;index=.GH#focus">The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity</a></strong> / Julia Cameron<br />
<strong><a href="http://catalog.hcpl.net/ipac20/ipac.jsp?menu=search&amp;aspect=subtab13&amp;term=finding%20water%20julia%20cameron&amp;index=.GH#focus">Finding Water: The Art of Perseverance</a></strong> / Julia Cameron<br />
<strong><a href="http://catalog.hcpl.net/ipac20/ipac.jsp?menu=search&amp;aspect=subtab13&amp;term=practical%20writer%20inspiration%20publication%20therese%20eiben&amp;index=.GH#focus">The Practical Writer: From Inspiration to Publication</a></strong> / edited by Therese Eiben &amp; Mary Gannon, with the staff of Poets &amp; Writers Magazine<strong><a href="http://catalog.hcpl.net/ipac20/ipac.jsp?menu=search&amp;aspect=subtab13&amp;term=demon%20angel%20searching%20source%20artistic%20inspiration&amp;index=.GH#focus"><br />
</a></strong><strong><a href="http://catalog.hcpl.net/ipac20/ipac.jsp?menu=search&amp;aspect=subtab13&amp;term=creativity%20unconscious%20art%20literature&amp;index=.GH#focus">On Creativity and the Unconscious: The Psychology of Art, Literature, Love and Religion</a></strong> / Sigmund Freud<br />
<strong><font color="#27638c">The Demon and the Angel</font></strong> / Edward Hirsch<br />
<strong><a href="http://catalog.hcpl.net/ipac20/ipac.jsp?menu=search&amp;aspect=subtab13&amp;term=in%20the%20palm%20of%20your%20hand%20poets%20portable%20workshop&amp;index=.GH#focus">In the Palm of Your Hand:&nbsp;The Poet's Portable Workshop; A Lively and Illuminating Guide for the Practicing Poet</a></strong> / Steve Kowit<br />
<strong><a href="http://catalog.hcpl.net/ipac20/ipac.jsp?menu=search&amp;aspect=subtab13&amp;term=courage%20to%20create%20rollo%20may&amp;index=.GH#focus">The Courage to Create</a></strong> / Rollo May<br />
<a href="http://catalog.hcpl.net/ipac20/ipac.jsp?menu=search&amp;aspect=subtab13&amp;term=complete%20idiots%20guide%20to%20writing%20poetry&amp;index=.GH#focus"><strong>The Complete Idiot's Guide to Writing Poetry</strong></a> / Nikki Moustaki<img hspace="3" height="158" align="right" width="100" alt="Cover Art: Poemcrazy: Freeing Your Life with Words by Susan Goldsmith Wooldridge" src="http://www.syndetics.com/index.aspx?type=xw12&amp;isbn=9780609800980/LC.GIF&amp;client=harrisp&amp;upc=&amp;oclc=" /><br />
<strong><a href="http://catalog.hcpl.net/ipac20/ipac.jsp?menu=search&amp;aspect=subtab13&amp;term=elements%20authorship%20arthur%20plotnik&amp;index=.GH#focus">Elements of Authorship: Unabashed Advice, Undiluted Experience, &amp; Unadulterated Inspiration for Writers &amp; Writers-to-be</a></strong> / Arthur Plotnik<br />
<strong><a href="http://catalog.hcpl.net/ipac20/ipac.jsp?menu=search&amp;aspect=subtab13&amp;term=letters%20to%20a%20young%20poet%20rilke&amp;index=.GH#focus">Letters to a Young Poet</a></strong> / Rainer Maria Rilke<br />
<a href="http://catalog.hcpl.net/ipac20/ipac.jsp?menu=search&amp;aspect=subtab13&amp;term=poetry%20lounge%20james%20seligman&amp;index=.GH#focus"><strong>The Poetry Lounge: Self-expression through the Spoken Word</strong>&nbsp;</a><strong><a href="http://catalog.hcpl.net/ipac20/ipac.jsp?menu=search&amp;aspect=subtab13&amp;term=poetry%20lounge%20james%20seligman&amp;index=.GH#focus">1, 2 &amp;&nbsp;3</a>&nbsp;</strong>[DVDs] / written, photographed &amp; editied by James Seligman<br />
<strong><a href="http://catalog.hcpl.net/ipac20/ipac.jsp?menu=search&amp;aspect=subtab13&amp;term=on%20writing%20sleeping%20giant&amp;index=.GH#focus">On Writing</a></strong> [DVD] / Sleeping Giant Productions in association with Bravo<br />
<strong><a href="http://catalog.hcpl.net/ipac20/ipac.jsp?menu=search&amp;aspect=subtab13&amp;term=artists%20muse%20unlock%20creativity%20stroud&amp;index=.GH#focus">The Artist's Muse: Unlock the Door to your Creativity</a></strong> / Betsy Dillard Stroud<br />
<strong><a href="http://catalog.hcpl.net/ipac20/ipac.jsp?menu=search&amp;aspect=subtab13&amp;term=poet%20power%20practical%20guide&amp;index=.GH#focus">Poet Power!: The Practical Poet's Complete Guide to Getting Published</a></strong> / Thomas A. Williams<br />
<strong><a href="http://catalog.hcpl.net/ipac20/ipac.jsp?menu=search&amp;aspect=subtab13&amp;term=poemcrazy%20wooldridge&amp;index=.GH#focus">Poemcrazy: Freeing Your Life with&nbsp;Words</a></strong> / Susan G. Wooldridge&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />
<strong><a href="http://catalog.hcpl.net/ipac20/ipac.jsp?menu=search&amp;aspect=subtab13&amp;term=poets%20market%20writers%20digest%20&amp;index=.GH#focus">Poet's Market</a></strong> / Writer's Digest Books</p>
<p>If you have any comments, suggestions, or advice, please drop me a line via the comments link. Thanks for reading.</p>
<p>Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/erikstabile/3891453205/">Untitled Photograph 20090905_5</a> [Woman Writing] by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/erikstabile/">Mr. Stabile</a></p>
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<script type='text/javascript'>stLight.options({publisher:''});</script>http://www.hcpl.net/content/unsolicited-advice-and-other-things-you-dont-want-hear#commentsinspirationPoetrywriting adviceThu, 12 Aug 2010 14:17:09 +0000David Cherry4932 at http://www.hcpl.netOn the Shelf: The Power of Smallhttp://www.hcpl.net/content/shelf-power-small
<p>The premise of <strong><a href="http://catalog.hcpl.net/ipac20/ipac.jsp?menu=search&amp;aspect=subtab13&amp;term=the%20power%20of%20small:%20why%20little%20things%20make%20all%20the%20difference&amp;index=.TH#focus">The Power of Small: Why Little Things Make All the Difference </a></strong>by Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval is a simple one.&nbsp;&ldquo;We have become a nation of skimmers, our attention limited to sound bites, live video clips, and headlines,&rdquo; they say, adding that, as a result, the small cues, the simple gestures, the random acts of kindness that give life texture and meaning are all too often overlooked or ignored.</p>
<div>In short chapters featuring interesting anecdotes, Thaler and Koval reinforce the &ldquo;power of small in our personal and professional lives,&rdquo; whether by appreciating the little things, making small talk (and small impressions) or adding a minute at the end of a task to reread a paragraph or refigure a column of numbers. Recommended &ldquo;small changes&rdquo; include being four again, i.e. ask small questions; or testing the waters by taking baby steps toward a career change.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Though a quick read, The Power of Small is filled with ideas, good to great, on how to improve your personal and professional life by simply paying attention. Check it out - you'll be glad you did!</div><span st_url=http://www.hcpl.net/content/shelf-power-small st_title='On the Shelf: The Power of Small' class='st_facebook' ></span><span st_url=http://www.hcpl.net/content/shelf-power-small st_title='On the Shelf: The Power of Small' class='st_twitter' ></span><span st_url=http://www.hcpl.net/content/shelf-power-small st_title='On the Shelf: The Power of Small' class='st_digg' ></span><span st_url=http://www.hcpl.net/content/shelf-power-small st_title='On the Shelf: The Power of Small' class='st_pinterest' ></span><span st_url=http://www.hcpl.net/content/shelf-power-small st_title='On the Shelf: The Power of Small' class='st_email' ></span><script type='text/javascript'>var switchTo5x=true;</script>
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<script type='text/javascript'>stLight.options({publisher:''});</script>http://www.hcpl.net/content/shelf-power-small#commentsinspirationNonfictionself-helpSat, 31 Oct 2009 19:55:58 +00002541 at http://www.hcpl.netChicken Soup for Hard Timeshttp://www.hcpl.net/content/chicken-soup-hard-times
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt"><img hspace="5" alt="Chicken Soup for the Soul: Tough Times, Tough People" vspace="5" align="left" src="http://www.syndetics.com/index.aspx?type=xw12&amp;isbn=1935096354:/SC.GIF&amp;client=harrisp" />There&rsquo;s a new book in the <strong><a href="http://catalog.hcpl.net/ipac20/ipac.jsp?menu=search&amp;aspect=subtab13&amp;term=chicken%20soup%20for%20the%20soul&amp;index=.GH#focus">Chicken Soup for the Soul </a></strong>series. I know, I know &ndash; it&rsquo;s a little bit like the never-ending Rocky movie series. BUT, you have to admit this one&rsquo;s sorely needed &ndash; <strong><a href="http://catalog.hcpl.net/ipac20/ipac.jsp?menu=search&amp;aspect=subtab13&amp;term=chicken%20soup%20for%20the%20soul%20tough%20times%20people&amp;index=.GH#focus">Chicken Soup for the Soul: Tough Times, Tough People</a></strong>. It has 101 stories about overcoming challenges, especially in economic hard times. Who doesn&rsquo;t need uplifting in any season?</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p><span st_url=http://www.hcpl.net/content/chicken-soup-hard-times st_title='Chicken Soup for Hard Times' class='st_facebook' ></span><span st_url=http://www.hcpl.net/content/chicken-soup-hard-times st_title='Chicken Soup for Hard Times' class='st_twitter' ></span><span st_url=http://www.hcpl.net/content/chicken-soup-hard-times st_title='Chicken Soup for Hard Times' class='st_digg' ></span><span st_url=http://www.hcpl.net/content/chicken-soup-hard-times st_title='Chicken Soup for Hard Times' class='st_pinterest' ></span><span st_url=http://www.hcpl.net/content/chicken-soup-hard-times st_title='Chicken Soup for Hard Times' class='st_email' ></span><script type='text/javascript'>var switchTo5x=true;</script>
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<script type='text/javascript'>stLight.options({publisher:''});</script>http://www.hcpl.net/content/chicken-soup-hard-times#commentseconomyinspirationNonfictionThu, 15 Oct 2009 15:11:11 +0000Angel Hill2381 at http://www.hcpl.net